The Adventure - Arc: 1 Ch. 1

The Adventure - Arc 1: Reflections
Written By Closer-To-The-Sun (Joseph Noblit)
Chapter 1: Unsung

It was evening in Ponyville. The cool night air had come and most of the inhabitants of the small town were tucked away in their homes for the night. This was no different for the two who lived in the town's library. Twilight Sparkle and Spike were relaxing in silence in the main room of the library. While the dragon was lying on the floor and drawing a piece of parchment, the purple unicorn was lounging on the couch, looking through a photo album, occasionally chuckling to herself. This eventually caught the dragon's attention.

"What'cha laughing at?" Spike asked, getting up to stand on his feet to walk over to the mare.

With a smile, Twilight replied, "Oh, I'm just looking at the photo albums that mom sent of myself when I was a little filly. Such fun memories. Oh, there are a few of you as well. It was just after you hatched." She continued to turn the pages, seeing the past on the pages of the book.

Spike looked down at the book. While he noticed himself in the pictures, he could barely remember any of the events that took place, "How come I don't remember any of these?"

"You were a newly hatched dragon, Spike. You could barely stay up for eight hours, much less walk, at the time," Twilight commented before placing her hoof on a picture, "Here was our first family portrait after you were born. A few months after that, we both went to Princess Celestia's academy, remember?"

"I guess," the dragon's words drifted as he looked at the picture. In the photo, he saw a blue unicorn male next to a white unicorn mare with a purple and white mane, Twilight's parents, a younger Shining Armor next to a filly Twilight. Then, right in front of all of the unicorns was a baby Spike.

"Something on your mind, Spike?" Twilight asked concernedly.

"Kinda…." he admitted.

"Why don't you tell me?" using her magic, she closed the photo album and placed it aside, moving over on the couch so Spike could join her, "It could help to get it off your mind."

Hopping up on the couch cushion, he began "Well, looking at those photos, it just makes me wonder….makes me wonder about my parents…."

"Huh? You mean mom and dad? But their doing fine. You can read the letter if you want," Twilight turned toward a stack of papers on the end table.

"No, not mom and dad. I mean my mom and dad. My real parents…." his words sounded distant.

The mare finally understood what he meant, "Oh, I see."

"I just don't know anything about them," Spike continued, "For that matter, I barely know anything about dragons. All I know is that I'm different. Weirder than anypony else in Ponyville. It just bugs me so much." He looked down at his dangling feet before turning back to look at Twilight, "I mean, who am I?"

With a warm smile, Twilight responded, "Spike, you are you. I know it doesn't really help with your current problem, but you're like my little brother. You're part of my family. And mom, dad, and Shining Armor think the same. We didn't care if you were a pony, dragon, or whatever. You were and are family to us."

The unicorn's words caused a smile to appear on Spike's face, "Wow….I never thought of it like that before, Twilight."

"Well, I mean it, Spike," the pony placed her hoof on the baby dragon's head before playfully roughing him up, "and you should know better than to think like that. Mom always taught us better than that."

"Yeah, you're right as usual. Thanks, Twilight," Spike gave a quick hug to the purple unicorn.

"Of course," Twilight returned the hug before levitating the photo album back to her, "Would you like to look at a few more photos with me?"

"Heh, sure, why not?"

For the next couple of hours, Twilight and Spike looked through the family album, laughing at past adventures in Canterlot, their time with their family, photos from Shining Armor's recent wedding, and so on. However, when they got to a page about Twilight's entrance exam for Princess Celestia's academy, Spike tilted his head in puzzlement.

"Is that my egg on that wagon?" the dragon pointed with his claw.

"Yes, it is. And with the help of Rainbow Dash's first sonic rainboom, I was able to use my magic to hatch you," Twilight nodded and explained.

Spike pondered before asking another question, "Where did my egg come from?"

Opening her mouth to speak, Twilight found she did not have an answer for such a question. "A very valid inquiry. I'm not sure. I figured it was part of the test and didn't question it. Very curious."

"Guessing we aren't going to find out about that anytime soon, huh?" the purple and green dragon turned his head to the unicorn.

The mare was in thought before she replied, "Well, it doesn't have to be. We could find out more about it if you'd like, Spike."

"Huh?"

Twilight explained her idea, "Well, we could go to Canterlot tomorrow and ask Princess Celestia about this. If anypony knows the answer, it would be her. I'm sure she'll be more than happy to help offer some answers for you, Spike. You are, after all, one of her top scribes."

"I am?" Spike wasn't exactly sure if he believed what the mare said.

"But of course! She did say right after you were hatched that you, and I quote, 'are going to do some great things in your time'," Twilight mused, even imitating the regal manner of Princess Celestia's voice.

Spike couldn't help but give a small laugh at Twilight's imitation of the princess's tone, "She said that about me?"

"Actually, she said that to you, but you were too busy gnawing on your tail to pay attention to her," the mare explained before also giving a small laugh.

The dragon gave a small laugh as well at what he did, "Okay, if you are okay with us going up tomorrow."

"Anything for my little assistant," Twilight said, "But if we are going to do that tomorrow, I suggest that a certain dragon get ready for bed."

"Okay!" Spike jumped down from the couch and ran upstairs to take care of his nightly duties before he went to sleep.

Watching the small dragon dash off, Twilight gave a smile before looking back at the photo album and seeing a photo of a small, newly hatched Spike. In a soft voice, she spoke to herself, "You sure have grown up fast."